Word formatting

Question

Please explain how to prevent automating formatting in Word

Answer 1

See http://wordfaqs.ssbarnhill.com/TameAutoFormat.htm .

Answer 2

To prevent automatic formatting in Word, turn off the relevant AutoFormat and AutoCorrect options so Word stops changing what is typed (for example, superscripting ordinals like “1st” or converting hyphens to dashes or lists).

To stop superscript ordinals (like 1st, 2nd, 3rd):

Windows

1. Select File > Options.
2. Select Proofing, then under AutoCorrect options, select AutoCorrect Options.
3. Go to the AutoFormat As You Type tab.
4. Clear Ordinals (1st) with superscript.
5. Select OK.

macOS

1. On the Word menu, select Preferences.
2. Select AutoCorrect.
3. Go to AutoFormat as You Type.
4. Clear Ordinals (1st) with superscript.
5. Close the dialog.

To stop automatic conversion of hyphens to long dashes (en dashes):

When Word converts a typed hyphen to a dash, an AutoCorrect Options button appears near the text.

• To undo a single replacement, click AutoCorrect Options and choose Undo Dash.
• To stop this behavior more broadly, click AutoCorrect Options and then Control AutoCorrect Options to open the AutoCorrect dialog, where AutoFormat rules can be adjusted.

If automatic bullets or other list formatting appear (for example, when typing “- ” at the start of a line), use Ctrl+Z immediately after the automatic change to undo it, or clear the corresponding options under File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options > AutoFormat As You Type, then clear the options under Apply as you type.

If automatic formatting has already been applied and the goal is to remove it from existing text, use Clear All Formatting:

Windows (Word desktop)

1. Select the text to reset.
2. On the Home tab, in the Font group, select Clear All Formatting.

macOS (Word)

1. Select the text.
2. On the Home tab, in the Font group, select Clear All Formatting.

This returns the selected text to the default formatting for the current style, removing direct formatting that was added or modified.

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References:

• Turn off superscripting of ordinal numbers in Word
• Autoformat converts some hyphens to long dashes in Word
• Clear all text formatting